Essex County, MA Property Tax Rate
Homeowners in Essex County pay an effective 1.07% of home value in property tax — about $6,249 a year on the median $584,000 home, below or near the Massachusetts county median of 1.11%.
Essex County, MA: 1.07% effective property tax — ~$6,249/yr on the median home.
- Effective rate1.07%
- Median home value$584,000
- Median annual bill$6,249
- MA county median1.11%
- U.S. county median0.84%
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2023 5-year (median taxes paid ÷ median value), compiled June 2026.
Essex County vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
| Effective rate | On the county's $584,000 median home | |
|---|---|---|
| Essex County | 1.07% | $6,249 |
| Massachusetts county median | 1.11% | $6,482 |
| U.S. county median | 0.84% | $4,906 |
Median household income here is $99,431, putting the median tax bill at about 6.3% of income. Effective rates fold in homestead exemptions and assessment practice — they're what owners actually pay, which is why they beat statutory rates for comparison.
Highest & lowest rates in Massachusetts
| County | Effective rate | Median bill |
|---|---|---|
| Hampden County | 1.57% | $4,338 |
| Franklin County | 1.51% | $4,581 |
| Hampshire County | 1.47% | $5,342 |
| Berkshire County | 1.37% | $3,888 |
| Nantucket County | 0.22% | $3,051 |
| Dukes County | 0.50% | $5,520 |
| Suffolk County | 0.67% | $4,561 |
| Barnstable County | 0.71% | $4,089 |
Full picture: Massachusetts property tax calculator · interactive county atlas · all county pages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Essex County, MA?
The effective rate is about 1.07% of home value — the median homeowner pays roughly $6,249 a year on a $584,000 median home (ACS 2023 five-year data).
Is Essex County's property tax high?
It's below or near the Massachusetts county median (1.11%) and above the U.S. county median (0.84%).
How is the effective rate calculated?
Median real-estate taxes paid ÷ median home value, from the Census American Community Survey — what owners actually pay, after exemptions, rather than the statutory millage.
Sources & methodology
Sources: Census ACS 2023 5-year tables B25103/B25077.
Effective rate = median real-estate taxes ÷ median home value (owner-occupied). Individual bills vary with exemptions, assessment timing and local levies — verify with the county assessor.